House intel panel to release Russian-purchased Facebook ads

Leaders of the House Intelligence Committee’s said Wednesday they will release thousands of political Facebook ads purchased by Russia during the presidential election.

Reps. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told reporters after meeting with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg that they were working with the company to release the ads publicly.

“We’ve asked for Facebook’s help to scrub any personally identifiable information, but it’s our hope that when that concludes we can release them publicly,” Schiff said.

Conaway said it was unlikely the ads would be released before Facebook testifies to Congress about Russian interference on Nov. 1.

The committee recently received more than 3,000 politically divisive ads believed to have been purchased by Russia.

The social media company found them on its network and said they appeared in the months before and after the vote.

Lawmakers in both parties had previously said they wanted to make the ads public.

The House committee, along with the Senate Intelligence Committee and special counsel Robert Mueller, are investigating Russian interference in the election to help then-candidate Donald Trump, and possible collusion with his campaign.

Trump has called the probes a ‘hoax” and “witch hunt” and denied any collusion.

Officials from Facebook and the committee did not immediately respond to requests for comment.